Movable sign



April 1931- .1 N. ECONOMOS 1,799,890

MOVABLE S IGN File Jan. 21, 1950 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Jwvj.

INVENTDR (7727? M 500710 772 as ATTORNEY.

1 1931. J. N. ECONOMOS MOVABLE S I GN Filed Jan. 21. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jflm l)- EC 071 omos.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 7, 1931 JOHN H. ECONOMICS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MOVABLE SIGN Application filed. January 21, 1930. Serial No. 422,398.

This'inventio n relates to movable signs. The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind consisting of.

an endless belt on which is painted a series 6 of signs and'means to move the belt successively so the advertising matter can be seen in front of an opening 1n the casing.

Another object of the invention is to have the movable belt operated by a motor and 1 means to start and stop the motor by the actuation of a thermostatic control which will make and break the electric circuit.

Other objects will appear as the disclosure progresses. The drawings are merely intended to indicate a possible embodiment of the invention. It is possible that the needs of manufacture may necessitate certain mechanical changes. It is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated but rather to define such limits in the appended claims.

For a more general understanding of this invention attention is now called to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment is illustrated. In these drawings like reference characters denote like parts throughout the specification.

Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail partly in section.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram.

Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form of the device.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view.

Referring now to the drawings in detail numeral 1 designates a triangular casing for housing the device, 2 the frame work and 3 a set of rollers for carrying the endless belt 4. As shown in Figure 2 the rollers are journalled in bearings 5 of the frame work.

Numeral 6 designates the motor for operating the device, 7 the motor pulley and 8 a driving belt fitting on said motor pulley and in a groove 9 formed in one of the rollers 3 for driving the endless belt 4. Painted on the belt is a series of signs 10. Supported on a shelf 11 attached to the framework is an electric bulb 12. Numeral 13. designates a solenoid attached to the framework for a purpose to be later described. As shown in Figure 3 the periphery of the left end of the rollers 3 are provided with a notch 14: to accommodate the extra strip 15 attached to the underside of the'endless belt.

Numeral16 designates a standard thermostatic make and break mechanism. As is well known in such devices the current passing through the resistance wire 17 will heat up the heat responsive element 18 and cause it to expand. When in its expanded condition the contact point 19 will be moved away from the contact point 20 and thus break the current. WVhen the element cools off the contacts 19 and 20 will touch and the circuit will be closed. i

In the wiring diagram numeral 20 designates the conductors leading to a source of current. VVhen' the points 19 and 20 are in contact the current will flow from the con ductor 20 to the resistance wire 17 through the contacts 19 and 20 to the conductor 21 to the solenoid 13 to the lamp 12, to the motor 6 and back again to the conductor 20- l The operation of this device is asfollows. When the contact points 19 and 20 touch the electric circuit will be closed, the solenoid 13 energized and the latch 22 withdrawn from 30 the hole 23 in the belt. At the same time the bulb 12 will light, the motor commence to rotate and the endless belt move. The normalposition of the points 19 and 20 is when they are in contact with each other. After 35 the current passes through the resistance wire 17 for a certain length of time the wire will heat the element 18 and cause-it to expand and break the circuit. Now when the circuit is broken the operation of the device, stops. The circuit making and breaking device is so timed that the motor will rotate a certain number of revolutions .so that a new sign can be brought to view at every operation. The end of the solenoid latch 22 will always bear against the face of the strip 15 and will pass into the hole 23 when the. hole registers with the latch and stop the belt at the exact position. Every time the circuit is closed the belt will move and simultaneously the lamp will light up thus making an attract-ive display. The rollers are provided with the notches 14 at one end to accommodate the thickness of the strip 15 and also to keep the belt in its exact track.

The modification of the device shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is broadly the same and operates the same as the preferred form buthowever, includes certain diiferent specific details. Numeral 24 designates the casing, 25 the frame work and 26 the endless belt adapted to rotate on the rollers 27 journalled in the bearings 28. Numeral 29 designates the motor and 30 the motor pulley used to drive the rollers through the medium of the driving belt 31.

J ournalled in the bearings 32 of the frame is a shaft 33 on which is keyed a pulley 34 belt driven from the motor pulley 30. At the top of the shaft is an electric bulb 35 surrounded by a semi-transparent shade 36. The face of the pulley 34 as shown in Figure 6 is provided with a series of holes 37. IVhen any of these holes register with the latch 38 of the solenoid 39 the latch will move therein and stop the device from rotating. By the time the latch moves into any of the holes the circuit is broken and the only strain on the latch to take care of is the inertia of the pulley and its associated parts.

The bracket 40 to which the solenoid is attached also supports an electric bulb 41. The circuit making and breaking device used here is the same as shown in Figure I. The motor, circuit making and breaking device, the solenoid and the lamps 35 and 41 are in series so that when the current is off and on both lamps will light simultaneously and also the belt will move at the same time so that a fresh sign will be in front of the opening. lVhen the circuit is on the latch of the solenoid will be drawn back against the spring and when the circuit is off the latch will jump into any of the holes. Numeral 42 designates the opening in the casing for displaying the signs 43.

The shaft 33 and the lamp shade 36 revolve at the same time the endless belt moves so that the opposite faces of the lamp shade comes to view every time the endless belt moves.

Claims 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing and a frame, of a set of rollers journalled in said frame, a movable belt supported on said rollers, a series of signs painted on said movable belt, and means to move said belt successively in front of an opening in said casing, said means consisting of a motor and a thermostatic element in series with the motor for starting and stopping said motor.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing and a frame, of a set of rollers journalled in said frame, a movable belt supported on said rollers, a series of signs painted on said movable belt, means to move said belt successively in front of an opening in said casing, said means consisting of a motor and a thermostatic element in series with the motor for starting and stopping said motor, and a solenoid having a latch at the end which engages with said belt for causing the belt to be latched so that it will stop at the exact place.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing and a frame, of a set of rollers ournalled in said frame, a movable belt supported on said rollers, said belt iaving a series of holes at the end, a series of signs painted on said movable belt, means to move said belt successively in front of an opening in said casing, said means consist-v ing of a motor and a thermostatic element in series with the motor for starting and stopping said motor, and a solenoid having a latch which moves into said holes in the belt and causes said belt to stop at the exact place.

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing and a frame, of a set of rollers journalled in said frame, a movable belt supported on said rollers, a series of signs painted on said movable belt, means to move said belt successively in front of an opening in said casing, said means consis ing of a motor, a set of pulleys supporting said movable belt and driven from said pulleys, one of said pulleys having holes in one face thereof, a thermostatic element adapted to control the movement of the motor, and a solenoid element to latch into a hole in the face of one of said pulleys for stopping the movement of said belt at the exact time.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN N. ECONOMOS. 

